What prompts elder abuse?

Victim attempting to prevent the perpetrator from entering or demanding that he/she leave

Victim threatening or attempting to leave/escape

Threat or concern that the victim would involve the authorities

Conflict about romantic relationship

Presence during/intervention in ongoing family violence

Issues with multi-generational child-rearing

Conflict about the perpetrator’s substance abuse

Confrontation about financial exploitation/demanding money

Dispute over theft/destruction of property

Disputes over minor household issues

The abuser in the greatest proportion of cases (41 percent) was the victim’s son. The second largest group were spouses (18 percent). The median age of the mostly female (72 percent) victims was 68, and 18 percent of abusers were “acutely intoxicated with alcohol or illicit substances” when the abuse occurred.